2008 Woodie Awards
Spreading the word on health
Parker Smith
Issue date: 11/15/07 Section: News
- Page 1 of 1
It's a common misconception that cold and flu season is brought on by cold weather. According to Campus Health Director Lori Jeppson, cold and flu are actually brought on by bacteria, not cold air.
As the weather becomes colder people tend to stay indoors and that is when they catch colds or other viruses. There is no way to cure the common cold or flu but Jeppson offers students strategies for staying healthy during colder months.
* Wash your hands frequently using hot water and soap for at least 30 seconds.
* Drink at least eight glasses of water per day. This flushes your system and keeps you hydrated during the dry winter season.
* Cover your nose and mouth when you cough or sneeze. If you don't have a tissue, use your sleeve.
* Eat healthy foods rich in vitamins A, C and E, such as milk, eggs, citrus fruits, vegetables and nuts. These will strengthen your immune system.
* Garlic also boosts the immune system. Simply crush a clove with the flat side of a knife before adding it to your food. This releases the garlic juice which has great immune properties.
* Cheese and other dairy products, such as yogurt, can also boost the immune system.
* Zinc is found in meat, chicken, peanuts/peanut butter and plays an important role in the proper functioning of the immune system in the body.
* A good multivitamin can help strengthen the immune system. Green tea can help boost your immunity as well.
* Eat a healthy breakfast every day.
* Alleviating stress is easier said than done but too much stress can weaken the immune system. Soothing music, meditation, yoga, reading or watching a comedy show are all good ways to relax.
* Get plenty of rest. If students don't get at least seven hours of sleep each night they may increase their chances of getting sick.
* Disinfect regularly. Clean doorknobs, phones, keyboards, sinks, counters and any other shared items.
* Use hand sanitizer after touching shared items or surfaces.
* Wash water bottles before refilling to avoid germ build up and don't share drinks with others.
* Quit smoking. This habit kills cilia, which are the fibers in your nose and lungs that prevent mucus from clogging airways.
Jeppson said, "Part of the reason smokers are at increased risk for respiratory illness is that smoking suppresses immune cells. This makes it more difficult to fight off something as simple as the common cold."
So far this season Jeppson said she has seen students with sore throats, headaches and fevers. She said if students are experiencing these systems cough drops, lozenges and Tylenol or ibuprofen can be used in addition to increasing fluid intake and getting plenty of rest.
As the weather becomes colder people tend to stay indoors and that is when they catch colds or other viruses. There is no way to cure the common cold or flu but Jeppson offers students strategies for staying healthy during colder months.
* Wash your hands frequently using hot water and soap for at least 30 seconds.
* Drink at least eight glasses of water per day. This flushes your system and keeps you hydrated during the dry winter season.
* Cover your nose and mouth when you cough or sneeze. If you don't have a tissue, use your sleeve.
* Eat healthy foods rich in vitamins A, C and E, such as milk, eggs, citrus fruits, vegetables and nuts. These will strengthen your immune system.
* Garlic also boosts the immune system. Simply crush a clove with the flat side of a knife before adding it to your food. This releases the garlic juice which has great immune properties.
* Cheese and other dairy products, such as yogurt, can also boost the immune system.
* Zinc is found in meat, chicken, peanuts/peanut butter and plays an important role in the proper functioning of the immune system in the body.
* A good multivitamin can help strengthen the immune system. Green tea can help boost your immunity as well.
* Eat a healthy breakfast every day.
* Alleviating stress is easier said than done but too much stress can weaken the immune system. Soothing music, meditation, yoga, reading or watching a comedy show are all good ways to relax.
* Get plenty of rest. If students don't get at least seven hours of sleep each night they may increase their chances of getting sick.
* Disinfect regularly. Clean doorknobs, phones, keyboards, sinks, counters and any other shared items.
* Use hand sanitizer after touching shared items or surfaces.
* Wash water bottles before refilling to avoid germ build up and don't share drinks with others.
* Quit smoking. This habit kills cilia, which are the fibers in your nose and lungs that prevent mucus from clogging airways.
Jeppson said, "Part of the reason smokers are at increased risk for respiratory illness is that smoking suppresses immune cells. This makes it more difficult to fight off something as simple as the common cold."
So far this season Jeppson said she has seen students with sore throats, headaches and fevers. She said if students are experiencing these systems cough drops, lozenges and Tylenol or ibuprofen can be used in addition to increasing fluid intake and getting plenty of rest.
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